Flowers

Sora has become a regular occurrence in Texas’s life. For the past three months, Sora has showed up at her flower shop every week, almost always on Saturday, but occasionally on a weekday as well.  In that period of time, Texas has learned some interesting things about Sora.

• She has two jobs
• She works at Penguin Logistics (Which is kind of funny because Texas was thinking of applying there before she decided to open up a flower shop).
• Sora is also a singer for Monster Singer Records, or MSR
• She can heal and strengthen others through singing 
• She’s very energetic, and seems to be the very definition of a “girl”
• Sora likes giving out compliments, like a lot

That last one threw Texas in a bit of a loop. The only other person who had ever complimented her this much would be Lappland. But Lappland was a special case. Sora’s just a friend, who keeps complimenting her colors, her eyes, her voice,etc. If Texas didn’t know any better, she would have suspected that Sora had a crush on her or something. But Sora hadn’t tried to pin her like Lappland did, or kiss her till she was breathless, or roam her hands down towards-

Annnnnd it is time to shift gears. I do not want to think about that. Nope nope nope absolutely not.

Texas focused back on the task at hand, which was watering the flowers and the cacti, and ignored the heavy thumping of her heart. She had to admit, after years of fighting and killing, it was nice to just completely relax and take care of flowers. That and she didn’t need to carry her swords everywhere she went. If Texas had her way, her swords would remain where they are for the rest of her life. 

Under the counter and in arms reach. 

Okay, so maybe she wasn’t completely relaxed, and maybe she still felt it was necessary to have her swords nearby, but she and Lappland had made a lot of enemies, and Texas wouldn’t let herself die just because she couldn’t reach her swords. Texas would also admit that she sometimes missed the familiar weight of her swords in her hands, the familiar dance of fighting, the rhythmic sound of her swords swinging through the air, the feel of her arts coursing throughout her body as swords rained from the sky, causing blood to pool on the ground and screams to echo out from-

I still need to water the flowers near the front.

Retreating from her bent position over the flowers, Texas rose straight up and turned around, to see Sora and an unknown Forte with orange hair staring at her from near the entrance. Both had heavily flushed cheeks, is it fever season?  and seemed to have their heads in the clouds. 

I didn’t even hear them come in

“Hey, Sora, random Forte, are you two ok?” Texas’s words were met with no response, and the continuation of those non-present stares.  With a sigh, Texas crossed over to the entrance, and set down her watering can. She then grabbed both Sora and the Forte by their shoulders, and gave them both a violent shake. 

_________________________________________________________

Sora was roughly brought back to reality when someone started violently shaking her shoulder. Her eyes focused once more, and her mouth opened to yell at the person shaking her, only to freeze when she noticed who it was.

Texas~

Texas was directly in front of her. Those beautiful orbs were filled with concern, and her voice filled with worry.

And Texas touched me! YESSSSSSSSSSS-

“Sora? Hey Sora? Are you ok?” Texas’s voice cut through her thoughts like a knife did butter, and dragged her back to the present. 

“O-oh, hi Texas! Yo-ou look lo-ovely this even-ning! I’m fine! Th-thanks for asking! Ho-ow are you!?”

Dammit voice! Stop stuttering! You’re making me look bad.

“I’m good and thanks. Is that your friend?” Texas pointed a finger at Croissant, who was blushing and seemed frozen in time. 

Oh crap, I forgot about Croissant! She better not embarrass me in front of Texas. Wait, was she also staring at Texas’s a-

“Y-yeah! This is Croissant! The injured friend I was talking about!” 

Come on Croissant! Introduce yourself!

Hearing her name did the trick, and Croissant unfroze. 

“ ‘Ello, I’m Croissant! ‘ you mus’ be Texas. Nice t’ meet ya!” said Croissant as she held her hand out towards Texas, who grasped it in a shake.

“Nice to meet you as well.” Texas replied, her eyes moving up and down Croissant before stopping at her face, and then darting towards Sora’s face before Texas moved her hand out of Croissant’s.  “Is it fever season? You both look like you have fevers or some kind of sickness.” 

I’m lovesick is what I am~

“Act’lly, it’s face-paint. Me and Sora ‘ere were dablin’ with it earlier. We best go wash it off.” 

Wait what? Croissant what are you doing! Were Sora’s thoughts as Croissant dragged her off towards the bathroom, following Texas’s pointed finger to the grey door hidden behind the cacti. 

_________________________________________________________

Inside the bathroom

“So th’s is whose caught ya eye for the past few months, eh? “ Croissant’s accented voice rang once the bathroom door closed, hopefully securing their conversation from any outsiders. “ Can’t say I blame ya. I mean, that Texas has got it all. Beautiful eyes, pretty fur, an’ didja see t’at as-” Croissant was cut off quite violently by Sora’s hand slamming over her mouth, preventing those last words from breaching into open air. 

“Croissant! Shush!” Sora’s cheeks were more red than they were before, and she was slightly frowning. “Why’d you drag me into here? You’re cutting into my Texas time.” 

“Mmph ef yeh mhh yoher hadd, Ih cohhd tehl yoh!“ Was the muffled response Sora received from the Forte, before she took her hand away from her companion’s mouth, giving her an imploring look. 

“Well, what are we doing here?” Sora’s voice was impatient.

I should be enjoying time with Texas right now!

“Why haven't ya asked Texas out on a dat’ yet?” 

What

“What?! I can’t just ask Texas out on a date! Besides, I’m waiting for her to make the first move! “ Croissant just gave Sora a look that screamed are you stupid? Do you have dumb? 

“Yer waitin’ for her to make the first move?”  Croissant’s disbelief was thick enough to feel in the air, and Sora nodded her head in confirmation. “Sora, I love ya, but sometimes ye can be stupid. Texas here seems to be as dense as a mountain.”

Sora opened her mouth to respond, and probably defend Texas’s honor, but was cut off by Croissant’s ranting

“I mean, ya said so yourself that Texas ‘hasn't been responding to’ yer flirtin’, an’ I can see why. She has the awareness of a rock. Ye called her ‘eautiful and all she said was thanks. All that flirting ya told me ya did probably slipped ‘ight past her head. An’ that comment about fevers! She’s denser than stone!  Ye gotta be honest and upfront. Otherwise, she’ll only ever see ya as a friend. Just walk up to her an’ ask ‘er out. All ya need to say is ‘Texas, would ya go out on a date with me?’ and yer gold’n!” Finally closing her mouth, Croissant gave Sora a double thumbs up and an encouraging smile.

“Wha-but Croissant, I can’t just do that!”

Croissant let out a sigh.

“Listen Sora, I’ve already said that Texas ain’t the best at picking up hints, so ye fantasy ain’t coming true, an’ if ye need more proof, yer gayness is practically everywhere and Texas can't even feel it, not to mention tha-” (Thanks for the term CelticCrow : ) lol)

“Wait wait no it isn’t that!” Sora quickly interrupted Croissant. “It's just that, well, uh, I’m …” 

“Yer what?”

Sora mumbled something inaudible, looking down with crossed arms and flushed cheeks. 

“What?”

“I’m … “

“I’m …?” said Croissant imploringly, beckoning Sora to continue with her hands.

“I’m shy.” Sora finally admitted, still looking down.

“... yer shy? You, of all people, are shy?” Croissant said, before bursting into laughter. “How are ye shy! Ya sing in front of t’ousands of *weeze* people everyday!” 

“It-its different! And stop laughing at me!” Sora’s cry rang unheard, as Croissant continued to laugh at her, holding onto her stomach and attempting to avoid an early death from laughter.  

“I’m sorry, it’s just hah, so dang funny hehe! Ye can sing to a crowd, but can’t talk to one person! It’s just so hahaha. I mean, I can’t even sing to a small group of people but I can still talk to a single person.”  

“Ye-yeah? Well then why don’t you go ask Texas on a date then?! Show me how it's done!.” Came a slightly mad response from Sora, who looked like a very angry tomato. 

“Well, if ye insist.”  Croissant replied, as she opened the bathroom door, and began walking out.

Wait what

“Wa-wait Croissant! I was joking!” Sora yell-screamed as she dashed out to follow the Forte, who was now just 2 steps away from Texas.

______________________________________________________________

Now outside the bathroom

They sure took a while in there, thought Texas as she watched Croissant stroll over to the counter with Sora at her heels. Croissant propped her elbows onto the counter as soon as she made it over, and put her chin into her open hands, now face to face with Texas and doing the almost the exact same pose as her. 

“Say, Texas, yer a business woman yeah?” Croissant said, staring into Texas’s eyes and smiling, whilst ignoring Sora’s quiet plea of “Croissant don’t!”.

“Yes?” Texas replied, giving her a critical eye.

Is she planning to sell me something? Maybe even offer to partner?

“Well then, may I interest ya in a limited time item?” said Croissant, smilingly coyly.

Oh, she is selling me something. I wonder what

“I’m listening”

“An all expense paid trip to the fanciest diner in Lungmen, with yours truly, for the low price of 0 LMD. I’ll even throw in a trip to my bedroom if you buy it now!”  Sora’s cry of nooooo could be heard in the background as Texas’s thought process halted for about two seconds.

D-did she just ask me out on a date? 

Texas’s expression remained blank, but her words were slightly apologetic. “Sorry, you seem nice, but I’m in love with Lappland married.” Married wasn’t exactly the word she would use for herself and Lappland, though she would like to use that but Croissant’s offer put her off guard, and Texas knew the only person she could ever love that way would be Lappland, so no harm done in declaring that she was married, right?

“Yer married?” Croissant let out a whistle. “They must be one lucky person.”

“Yeah…” I wouldn’t describe Lappland as lucky. She didn’t exactly hit the jackpot with me. I mean, she contracted Oripathy and I just ran away from her. If anything she’s the unluckiest person in existence.  She might not even be alive right now ... 

Before Texas could allow her thoughts to drift into more depressing territory, she heard the bell to her shop ring as a yellow blur ran out, and noticed Sora was gone. 

“Ah feck” muttered Croissant as she turned away from what Texas assumed was Sora’s figure running away. “Sorry, but I guess that's my queue to leave, I better catch up to Sora before she does something rash.” 

“Is she ok?” Texas asked, turning to face Croissant. 

Why’d she dart out?

“Well ‘eres the quick rundown. Sora loved ye and I only asked ya on a date to encourage ‘er to confess to ya. Kinda backfired a bit though.”

Oh… Shit

“Anyways, I better go catch up to her, cya later Texas.” 

“Bye” Texas barely managed to say as Croissant  dashed out of her store, running in the same direction Sora disappeared. 

This is bad, Texas thought as she went to water the flowers in the front, and dedicated the rest of her day to not thinking of how she accidentally crushed her friend's heart.